Academic gathering with a lich

Calmness, just like the despair that sprouted within. William felt as if he could personally sense the despair growing within this powerful man before him.

"You kid, do you know who you’re dealing with? How dare you bring out something like this!" The spellcaster accompanying him rebuked William, who had done something wrong, without surprise.

It’s your own damn fault for the mess you chose, William thought to himself. But the situation was stronger than him. Just as William was about to smile apologetically, the man who had been dwelling on the unpleasant situation unexpectedly let go of the issue, patting his companion on the shoulder.

"It’s fine, Winter, young people are prone to be rash, it’s normal. Don’t be like a petty old man."

Looking at the amiable superior, the spellcaster named Winter was taken aback, responding subconsciously, but his mind was still lingering in surprise.

The powerful spellcaster looked at William, taking a drink handed by the bartender to wash away the strange taste in his mouth.

"An impressive introduction, William, I think I’ll remember you. Let’s be straightforward, William Dolgette. I see great talent in you, magic-wise, how about joining the largest group of human mages, the Secret Pivot Council? We’ll cultivate your talent and let you truly see your path. Of course, the city at your feet, the City of Wandering, will also be within your jurisdiction. No one here would dare say you’re meddling in things that don’t concern you."

William’s mouth hung open in shock, this wasn’t punishment, this was an opportunity. Although William always prided himself on his magical talent, he understood he was but a small fry, and now, was it time for the eaglet to take off?

Bliss had come too suddenly, leaving William jittery for a moment.

"You... sir... do you want to take me as your apprentice?" William asked, trembling, as that was his life’s pursuit.

"No, I won’t take you as an apprentice. Your talent lies in Elemental Spells, while mine is in teleportation magic, I can’t teach you. But, I’ll introduce you to a teacher, a true mentor who can harness your great talent."

"Join us, William, the hidden wisdom of this world is calling for you."

No, there’s no such thing as a free lunch—William understood this well from his years of roughing it outside. He wanted to say no, but he couldn’t hold back from the temptation; it was too enticing.

As William wavered, another voice gave the answer.

"He agrees, sir."

Anna stood behind William, grasping his arm, "Is there any contract to sign? He’s just being insincere, he’ll be ready soon."

"A promise will suffice," the spellcaster said, looking at the Succubus standing next to William, the darkness of his hood flowing between them.

With Anna’s approach, the familiar scent of a young girl also emerged beside him, but now, this indulgence only aggravated him.

William shook off Anna’s arm and looked at the Succubus.

"What are you doing, Anna?"

"I’m doing what you’re supposed to do, giving you the chance to seize an amazing opportunity, so you won’t live with regret."

"What right do you have to interfere with my choices, as if they all require your approval, who do you think you are?" William shouted uncharacteristically, like an enraged beast.

Anna was also infuriated by William’s outburst; she roared back at him like a lioness.

"This is for your own good, after all, you’re good for nothing but magic! I’m nothing, but you should do this—for yourself!"

"No! Absurd! Unreasonable! For my own good? Was the punch you threw at my face just now also for my best interest? Mind your own business!"

Anna crossed her arms, "Indeed, for your own good as well as mine!"

"You’re an unreasonable woman! You she-devil!"

"Of course, I’m a Succubus, I don’t reason, I act on impulse! But unlike you, an idiot! I don’t hesitate, I seize every opportunity around me! Don’t forget, once you become an Arcanist, this city-state will be your home, any place here, including the Light Five District where your Fannila resides, will be open to you!"

Fannila, the sweet name he whispered to himself, sounded so different and only intensified William’s anger when spoken by Anna.

"This is my business! I don’t need you making decisions for me!"

"Is that so? Then keep hesitating, you fool! Farewell," Anna snapped and stormed out.

The spellcaster watched as William seemed like a ticking bomb of rage, raising his arm only to put it down again.

"Aren’t you going after her, William? She’s gone. As someone who’s been there, I’d tell you, it’s a good idea to go after her... You can think about joining the Secret Pivot Council if you want, I’m not in a hurry."

"This is none of your business, sir!" None of your fucking business! William finally managed a more restrained response in a rage.

"You kid, what’s with that attitude!" Spellcaster Winter scolded him again for his disrespect towards his superior.

History is eerily similar.

The spellcaster once again placated his companion, unsurprisingly.

"Relax, it’s okay. Young people tend to be hot-headed, especially when in love, it’s understandable."

Is this guy made of clay?

Mr. Kakun, the bartender, patted William on the shoulder, "William, the Spellcaster’s words are indeed true, go chase after Anna, we’ll take good care of the bar."

"Thank you, Mr. Kakun." After expressing his gratitude, William also left.

The Spellcaster regained his dignity.

"What are you looking at? Go do whatever it is you’re supposed to do!" The Spellcaster walked out of the bar with Winter.

"Winter, you go busy yourself."

"As you command, my lord of the city."

The Spellcaster’s name was Carlos Dolgette, the master of the City of Wandering. After his subordinate had left, he sneaked into a dark corner of his own city like a thief and took out the Ice Blue Gem from his bosom. As magic power flickered, a gentle and wise voice emanated from the gem.

"Carlos, my child, do not disturb me while I’m conducting my research."

"Father! I’ve found the kid, in the City of Wandering!"

The gem fell into a brief silence, then the buzzing sound of magical operations picked up again, showing that the research on the other side wasn’t stopping just because he said so.

"Carlos, you say you’ve found William every time. Whenever you meet a child with outstanding talent and a handsome face, you assert that he’s your progeny. I’m almost tired of your constant surprises."

"This one must be true! It’s that brat!" In order to prove it, Carlos even shared the embarrassing incident he had just experienced, "That damned kid just made me down a cup of slime monster vomit!"

"..." Silence, the buzzing of circulating magic became unstable, followed by an explosion. Carlos figured the experiment on the other end must have blown up.

The voice remained unchanged, still somewhat pale and cold now, "Carlos, my child. If I’m not mistaken, I believe I taught you that slime monsters are similar to coelenterates, they have only one aperture for ingestion. To put it bluntly, their vomit is also their excrement. You mean to say, the first time William sees you, he feeds you a ’shit shake.’ I expect my child has not been foolish enough to forget such basic knowledge."

Carlos, trembling, exhaled.

"Father, I too wish I were a fool who could forget. But that kid must be my son, after all, he’s that cursed thing."

"So, you recognized William as your son?"

"No, I’m a bit scared to do it. It’s been ten years, due to my negligence, he has drifted for ten years. Sometimes I doubt whether he can come back to life. I owe him too much, I dare not imagine what it would be like when he sees me. At least not now."

"Then what do you plan to do?"

"Provide help to William, fulfill my duties as a father, until the day I believe he can accept me."

"... A very careful approach, Carlos, but you are indeed a sentimental, hesitating waste."

"... You’re my dad, anything you say goes," Carlos said, still tasting the mucus in his mouth, "Father, do you think William could be affected by some magical creature’s curse? Otherwise, why would he be such a pain?"

"Not exactly a curse, but something akin certainly exists."

"What thing?"

"Inheritance, ’A crooked beam begets a crooked rafter.’"

"? Dad, what bad things have you done to grandpa?"

"Carlos, William inherited you." The voice on the other end of the line became ominously cold, "After my death, you disbanded Morocoy straight away, ran away with the Mage Tower I entrusted to you. My Carlos, you turned Morocoy from a kingdom into a city state and became its leader. What a good son you are. If I had other children besides you, I’d really want to strangle you to death."

"Hahaha, I’ve told you many times, Father. I can’t run a country, I’m not cut out to be a ruler. I don’t have such a strong sense of responsibility, and besides, I announced my departure to my subjects, taking all my followers with me. Isn’t the City of Wandering also quite nice? I am not a bad city leader."

A sigh came through the gemstone, "I also bear some responsibility, my Carlos. In life, I was too stubborn and set in my ways. I couldn’t see your thoughts and needs, I didn’t know what my own child truly wanted, that’s my fault, even after death, this mistake still stubbornly lingers in my mind."

"Father, we are the kind that can’t help but fall short. You were just a bit eager for me to succeed, you know how much I admire your achievements, I once tried to reach your level. But I can never become you. However, Father, you were indeed terrifying as a teacher."

"... I’ve heard similar opinions before. Speaking of which, have you thought about who William’s teacher should be? He can’t become a master just by relying on the research notes I left in my grave."

"But William’s achievements are already quite impressive, a Third Tier Spellcaster in his early twenties! An Elemental Series one, he truly is my seed!"

To Carlos’s satisfaction, the voice on the other side of the gemstone sounded regretful, "Only Third Tier, and from the Elemental Series. How come you two, father and son, couldn’t inherit all of my talent? One a master of Space-Time Spells, the other a master of Elemental Spells, do I have to pin my hopes on the next generation?"

"Don’t rush to the next generation, Father, I hope you can become William’s mentor, train him harshly! For his own good!"

"Didn’t you say that I was a terrifying teacher?"

"Because you’re terrifying, you should do the same to William! I shouldn’t be the only one who doesn’t get hurt!"

"..."